Personality Disorders: Part I

Question 1

When is Personality Disordered?

Answer 1

when character traits are so pervasive, and maladaptive that they impede an individual’s ability to function appropiately in social roles

Question 2

Hallmark Signs

Answer 2

• chronic interpersonal problems

- problems with one’s sense of self or identity

Question 3

DSM-V Criteria: General Personality Disorder

Answer 3

• enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviated markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture, is pervasive, inflexible
• onset: adolescence, early adulthood
• stable over time
• leads to distress or impairment
• manifested in two or more of the following areas: cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning, impulse control

Question 4

Cluster A: Personality Disorders

Answer 4

person appears odd or eccentric

• paranoid personality disorder
• schizoid personality disorder
• schizotypal personality disorder

Question 5

Paranoid Personality Disorder

Answer 5

pattern of distrust and suspiciousness: others’ motives are interpreted as malevolent

Question 6

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Answer 6

pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of emotional expression

Question 7

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Answer 7

pattern on acute discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior

Question 8

Cluster B: Personality Disorders

Answer 8

person appears dramatic, emotional, or erratic

• antisocial personality disorder
• borderline personality disorder
• histrionic personality disorder
• narcissistic personality disorder

Question 9

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Answer 9

pattern of disregard for, or violation, of the rights of others (sociopathy, dyssocial pd, moral insanity, psychopathy)

Question 10

Borderline Personality Disorder

Answer 10

pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, affects, and marked impulsivity

Question 11

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Answer 11

pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking

Question 12

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Answer 12

pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy

Question 13

Cluster C: Personality Disorders

Answer 13

person appears anxious or fearful

• avoidant personality disorder
• dependent personality disorder
• obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Question 14

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Answer 14

pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, hypersensitivity to negative evaluation

Question 15

Dependent Personality Disorder

Answer 15

pattern of submissive and clinging behavior related to an excessive need to be taken care of

Question 16

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Answer 16

pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control

Question 17

Causes of Personality Disorders

Answer 17

• depend on disorder
• gradual development
• not believed to be related to specific stressors, trauma
• some scientific support for: learning, neurological differences, genetics, diathesis-stress model

Question 18

Prevalence of Personality Disorders

Answer 18

13%

Question 19

Challenges in PD Research

Answer 19

• diagnostic challenges: symptoms are not easily observed (require expertise)
• categories are not mutually exclusive
• symptoms represent extremes of a continuum of personality traits seen in normal, well-adjusted people
• abnormality is hard to define

Question 20

DSM-V Criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder

Answer 20

• disregard and violation of rights of other since age 15
• 3 or more of the following:
• failure to conform to social norms: crimes
• deceitfulness, repeated lying for own benefit
• impulsivity and failure to plan ahead
• irritability and aggressiveness
• reckless disregard for safety of self and other
• consistent irresponsibility
• lack of remorse
• must be 18 or older
• have evidence of conduct disorder with onset before 15 years
• antisocial behavior does not occur exclusively during manic or psychic episode

Question 21

Psychopathy

Answer 21

• traits of ASPD + lack of empathy, superficial charm, arrogance

Question 22

Two Dimensions of Psychopathy

Answer 22

1. affective/interpersonal: callousness, selfishness, exploitation
2. behavioral: antisocial, impulsive, deviant or criminal behavior

Question 23

Clinical Features of Psychopathy

Answer 23

• unable to understand and accept ethical values
• irresponsible and impulsive behavior: thrill seeking, they take what they want
• associated with higher rates of substance abuse
• antisocial behavior related to lower IQ
• ability to impress and exploit others: intuitive about others needs and weaknesses
• don’t understand give or feel real love

Question 24

Causal Factors in ASPD and Psychopathy

Answer 24

• genetic influences: moderate heritability (may share neurodevelopmental problem)
• biological: deficient emotional arousal and conditioning (less prone to fear and anxiety)
• environmental: early loss, parental rejection

Question 25

Treatments for Psychopathy and ASPD

Answer 25

• no distress = no treatment
• most treatment settings: penal system
• biological and chemical methods are not effective
• CBT: increase self-control, empathy and victim awareness, anger management, change social attitudes, cure substance abuse
• Beck and Freeman’s Cognitive Therapy: change dysfunctional schemas

Question 26

Outcomes for Psychopathy and ASPD

Answer 26

• no treatment can completely cure
• most permanent solution so far: incarcelation
• most antisocial behavior decreases after age 40